Winterbourne Monkton, Wiltshire, SN4

Fine & Country are delighted to present Christmas House, a privately situated 6 bedroom period property in circa 6 acres, which has been subject to a sympathetic & authentic renovation. With spectacular grounds & a separate converted Bake House, perfect for home office or film nights!

Seller Insight:

What is your favourite room of the house and why?

In summer, when the garden room is flooded with sunlight, we love to open the doors and laze away an afternoon reading and listening to music. In winter, the hall in Christmas House comes into its own with a roaring fire, mistletoe and a huge tree.

Who do you think would be the next ideal owner?

I think there’s something for everyone, but if we had a choice, it would be a family - we moved in when our eldest child was just months old, and he and his sisters have had the most idyllic childhood imaginable.

What do you love most about the house and why?

The outdoor space is definitely one of the best features, from running around the orchard, pottering in the garden, film nights in the Bake House, room for horses and chickens and some amazing summer parties.

What do you love about the local community?

How welcoming everyone is. The pub, church and community centre are great meeting spots and offer everything from regular worship, to Pilates, quiz nights and real ale. We love being able to walk out of the drive and within minutes being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the World Heritage Site of Avebury.

How easy is it to commute from here?

Very easy! We have had easy access to the motorway and commuted to Bristol, Reading and Gloucester in under an hour over the 20+ years we’ve lived at Christmas House.

What made you choose this property over others that were available at the time?

The privacy and seclusion it offers without feeling isolated; it feels a very safe place to live. This was the first house we viewed where we could imagine ourselves staying and raising our family (and we viewed a lot over the two years we were hunting for our “forever” house) lucky for us, the dream came true!

Accommodation Summary:

The property has been subject to a sympathetic and authentic renovation project, with a charming blend of original features and modern day living. The position benefits from being so close to local village amenities yet is discreetly and very privately positioned. The property is timeless in its appearance, decorated beautifully with a neutral colour palette, yet seamlessly incorporating fun, colourful accents throughout.

The surrounding grounds extend to approximately 6 acres including a large detached double garage with separate studio/office, sweeping gravelled driveway, level paddocks, immaculate formal gardens and an enclosed orchard.

Ground Floor:

An inviting front porch leads through to the generous entrance hallway with a large inglenook fireplace and wonderful views out through the double doors over the private grounds. The kitchen/breakfast room has been significantly extended to incorporate a spacious, open plan sitting room with tall, vaulted ceilings. Leading from the kitchen, there is a useful boot room with a separate utility area.

The dual aspect, 31’ drawing room is located on the west side of the property with focal wood burning stove, tiled flooring underfoot and exposed beams overhead. A separate study, and two guest cloakrooms complete the ground floor accommodation.

First Floor:

Located on the first floor are four bedrooms and the family bathroom. The impressive, triple-aspect master suite enjoys panoramic views over the surrounding grounds and a south-facing Juliette balcony overlooking the formal gardens to the rear. The generous principal guest bedroom is also ensuite. Additionally on the first floor are two further guest bedrooms and the family bathroom.

Second Floor:

The second floor is dedicated to two further guest bedrooms or office/reception spaces and a further bathroom.

Outside:

The grounds at Christmas House are truly spectacular. To the front of the property, a sweeping gravelled driveway leads you through to the large parking area and double garage. Bordered by mature hedging, the private formal gardens are predominantly laid to lawn with a range of beautifully maintained beds enclosed by low level box hedging.

Sitting centrally, the old Bake House has been converted and has been used as a further office space, cinema room and gym by the current owners.

Leading from the gardens, a gate within the smart estate fencing takes you into the orchard where the beautifully constructed Willow Den takes centre stage.

To the right of the main house, there are gated, level paddocks, ideal for grazing.

Outbuildings:

Attached to the double garage, a versatile studio, WC and hobbies room have been added which could also be utilised as further guest or staff accommodation.

Location:

Winterbourne Monkton is a pretty rural village nestling on the edge of the Marlborough Downs and is a short distance from the World Heritage village of Avebury which has a post office, community shop, public house, church and National Trust centre. The nearby market towns of Marlborough and Devizes both host a fantastic range of shops, cafes, restaurants, and public houses, with independent and boutique businesses sitting side by side with larger national chains such as Waitrose. There are weekly markets selling everything from fruit and veg to garden furniture, and also a charming independent cinema just off of the Marlborough High Street on The Parade.

The surrounding area is steeped in history dating back to Neolithic times, with some significant sites at nearby Avebury, West Kennet Long Barrow and the iron age hill fort at Barbury Castle, which has stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area. The Ridgeway national trail, which runs through Barbury Castle is one of many excellent footpaths, bridlepaths, and trails to be explored, whether that be on foot, horseback, or bicycle. The local area provides an excellent choice of both state and public schools. Broad Hinton is just two miles away and has a good primary school. Other popular schools in the area include St Margaret’s and St Mary’s Calne, Pinewood Preparatory School, Marlborough College, St. Johns Academy (Ofsted rated Outstanding) and Stonar School.

Services: Mains water and electricity, oil fired central heating, private drainage